Abstract: A saw mill for producing square cross section timber pieces is disclosed. The mill includes a log orientation mechanism having three, spaced independently operable log elevating units. The units include pairs of log supporting discs. The discs of one unit only are power driven to turn the log on its longitudinal axis. A log dogging, indexing and stabilizing mechanism includes a pair of carriage mounted units on an overhead trackway. One such unit carries a log supporting and precision indexing dog which is turned through ninety degrees of rotation between positive stops by a power cylinder. The same unit carries a log stabilizing dog above the indexing dog which is moved axially into and out of engagement with a log end face while being held against rotation by another power cylinder. The log orientation mechanism is compatible with state-of-the-art scanning and microprocessor devices and the log may simply be visually scanned during orientation by an operator of the mill.

Abstract: Opposed parallel supporting rollers of a log receiving and turning assembly are rotated in order to rotate the log received thereon. The rollers are carried by a frame which is lifted or lowered, as desired, and a bar between the rollers is tiltable so as to lift selectively one end of the log or the other. By such an arrangement, the log is oriented so that a pair of dogs engage the log from opposite ends. These dogs are carried by an overhead carriage assemblies which ride on tracks and are movable with respect to each other by means of a hydraulic cylinder. One dog is rotatable by a motor through 90.degree. so as to orient the log. The carriage assemblies are movable in a longitudinal direction so that a pair of saws, driven by motors, will simultaneously cut the logs on opposite sides so as to deposit the boards, when cut from the log, on respective conveyors which carry the boards longitudinally away from the saws. The saws are adjustable laterally for different widths of log.